1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Buffer strips and hedges comprise natural vegetation of grass, bushes or trees. They are sited at the edges of fields, roads and surface water bodies. Their main function is to provide a natural buffer to control nutrient and sediment transport from agricultural fields by promoting water infiltration and slowing runoff, as well as preserving undisturbed green corridors.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Buffer strips and hedges comprise natural vegetation of grass, bushes and trees. They are sited at the edges of fields, roads and surface water bodies. Their main function is to provide a permanent natural buffer to intercept and control nutrient and sediment transport from agricultural fields, by slowing surface runoff and thus promoting infiltration. Creating such green corridors is ecologically advantageous as well.
Leaving field margins, headlands or strips around and between fields results in the natural germination and establishment of vegetation. Alternatively, buffer strips and hedges can be established deliberately according to a planting plan - which includes the species to be planted, their location and dimensions.
However, land users usually prefer to cultivate the possible largest areas, so they do not like leaving wide strips of “abandoned” land. In addition buffer strips and hedges provide habitats for wildlife – and this often results in damage to field crops by wild animals.
According to Hungarian forestry legislation, a strip of trees wider than 20 metres and larger than 0.5 hectare in total area is considered to be a forest, so in this case strict regulations have to be complied with. Below these threshold values land users have more liberty to do what they wish. When arable fields are close to, or surrounded by, afforested areas, conflict often arises between hunters and farmers, due to the damage caused by wild animals and hunters who cross farmers' fields – creating tracks and compacting the soil.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Hungary

Region/ State/ Province:

Somogy

Further specification of location:

The case study area is situated within the Balaton Catchment Area in the western Hungary. The climate is moderately warm, moderately humid, the number of sunshine hours per year are high. Mean annual temperature of the region of the Lake Balaton is about 10 ˚C. The average amount of rainfall (600-700 mm / year) nationally means a medium rainfall zone. The Balaton Catchment area is 5765 km2. The main environmental purpose is to reduce pollutant (phosphorus and other plant nutrients) loads of Lake Balaton, where anthropogenic eutrophication is the main issue of environmental concern. Lake Balaton, with its nearly 600 sqkm area, is the largest shallow lake in Middle Europe. The lake as well as the surrounding area form very important natural (ecological, water and landscape) resources and are one of the major target areas of water related recreational tourism in Europe as a whole. 37% of the total catchment area is arable land which is much lower than the national average, 27% is forest, which exceeds the national average. 15% of the land suitable for grassland management, 5% is horticulture, 3% is pomiculture, 2% is viticulture, 1% is reed management and fish farming. The „Kis-Balaton” nature conservation area situated within the Balaton Catchment area. The „Kis-Balaton” wetland is under protection of the Ramsar Convention habitat.

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)
• during experiments/ research

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• reduce risk of disasters

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - wheat (winter)
• oilseed crops - sunflower, rapeseed, other

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

cover crop are grown between cash crops

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

oilseed rape - winter weet - maize - spring barley

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

• reducing runoff

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

• V1: Tree and shrub cover

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
• Wg: gully erosion/ gullying

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Buffers strips can be grass as well, but the calculation here is based on tree/shrub planting.
The calculation was done for one hectare but the contiguous buffer strips cannot exceed 0.5 hectare (and 20 m width).

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The cost can be covered by agricultural subsidy (it will be available as targeted support under the new Common Agricultural Policy from 2023, but the exact amount has not yet been defined)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Conflicts often occur between farmers and hunters. There is a risk of damage of crops by wild animals.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Steep of the slope, soil texture, kind of wood species adapted to the area

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Biological disasters

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Haddaway et al. 2018: The multifunctional roles of vegetated strips around and within agricultural fields

Available from where? Costs?

https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-018-0126-2

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

EUROPEAN NWRM PLATFORM

URL:

nwrm.eu

7.4 General comments

Usability of this documentation is limited for local farmers because of the language barrier.